(Partial translation)
AKB48's general manager Minami Takahashi took part in the debate with the theme "The young generation now do not have dreams?" and started off with the words: "I personally think that the 'start button' of your life and ultimately your future will drastically change depending on the adults you become acquainted with".
She looked back at the time when she just joined AKB when all the members were worried as they could not see any future, nor where they were headed to. She continued that this was the time when AKB48's general producer Yasushi Akimoto told them, "Let's participate in NHK's Kouhaku Uta Gassen", "Let's perform at the Budoukan" -- huge goals which she she said "gave them the drive to persevere".
"We got encouraged by the words the adults gave us on our way to those goals and made us go, 'I see!'. Some people will break when they meet adults who tell them they're 'no good', and in contrast, people will grow further if they're told 'you can do it'."
When they started tackling the theme about employment issues, a studio participant said that: "It's easier for young people to break down when you make them do difficult jobs", to which Takahashi sympathized by saying, "I know that there are a lot of young people who have a hard time continuing their jobs", especially after seeing such people at her handshake events.
Takahashi mentioned that the young people would tell her, "I started a new job, but it's so tough", and "I'm thinking of quitting my job", to which she would usually respond and cheer them up by saying, "No, that's not good".
From these experiences, Takahashi gave her tough opinion on the youth today by stating: "Work is not something that you can easily obtain, and results won't come unless you keep at it. I really think that there are a lot of young people right now who can't move forward unless you give them a nudge on their backs".
Source: http://biz-journal.jp/2014/01/post_3845.html
http://www.nhk.or.jp/special/detail/2014/0111/
http://64.19.142.10/livedoor.blogimg.jp/akb4839/imgs/e/d/ed4b963d-s.jpg
AKB48's general manager Minami Takahashi took part in the debate with the theme "The young generation now do not have dreams?" and started off with the words: "I personally think that the 'start button' of your life and ultimately your future will drastically change depending on the adults you become acquainted with".
She looked back at the time when she just joined AKB when all the members were worried as they could not see any future, nor where they were headed to. She continued that this was the time when AKB48's general producer Yasushi Akimoto told them, "Let's participate in NHK's Kouhaku Uta Gassen", "Let's perform at the Budoukan" -- huge goals which she she said "gave them the drive to persevere".
"We got encouraged by the words the adults gave us on our way to those goals and made us go, 'I see!'. Some people will break when they meet adults who tell them they're 'no good', and in contrast, people will grow further if they're told 'you can do it'."
When they started tackling the theme about employment issues, a studio participant said that: "It's easier for young people to break down when you make them do difficult jobs", to which Takahashi sympathized by saying, "I know that there are a lot of young people who have a hard time continuing their jobs", especially after seeing such people at her handshake events.
Takahashi mentioned that the young people would tell her, "I started a new job, but it's so tough", and "I'm thinking of quitting my job", to which she would usually respond and cheer them up by saying, "No, that's not good".
From these experiences, Takahashi gave her tough opinion on the youth today by stating: "Work is not something that you can easily obtain, and results won't come unless you keep at it. I really think that there are a lot of young people right now who can't move forward unless you give them a nudge on their backs".
Source: http://biz-journal.jp/2014/01/post_3845.html
http://www.nhk.or.jp/special/detail/2014/0111/
